Fuji's first SuperCCD SR digital camera announced
By
Michael R. Tomkins, The Imaging Resource
(Wednesday, February 19, 2003 - 00:00 EST)
Fuji's second announcement of the day is the FinePix F700, its first model to use the recently announced SuperCCD SR technology which promises to extend dynamic range significantly over existing sensor technologies.
If you're not familiar with SuperCCD SR, it might be a good idea to
read our earlier coverage
of the sensor announcement before you continue. Specifics of the F700 design include a sensor with 3.1 megapixels of resolution, and 3.1 megapixels devoted to increasing dynamic range; there's also xD-Picture Card storage, 3x optical zoom lens, full manual capabilities, a 1.8-inch LCD display and built-in flash.

The Fuji FinePix F700 digital camera will go on sale in the USA in April 2003 at a cost of $599.95. Full specifications courtesy of Fuji follow:

One of two new Fujifilm digital cameras announced today, the FinePix F700 is intended for photo enthusiasts who want a near-film quality print experience from digital imaging products. The FinePix F700 produces digital pictures that stay truer to life than ever before, thanks to its Super CCD SR technology, which doubles the number of pixels on the chip. The SR sensor offers 3.1 million large pixels (S) with high sensitivity to light, and 3.1 million smaller pixels (R) with low sensitivity to light, resulting in a dynamic range of four times that of previous Super CCDs. Fujifilm combines this new technology with the traditional color integrity and overall high quality imaging Fujifilm is best known for, allowing consumers to capture truer-to-life images.

"The FinePix F700 is representative of Fujifilm's focus - leading-edge technology combined with an enjoyable user experience. The camera's sleek and familiar form factor, combined with its increased dynamic range, heightened sensitivity, and unique functions will make it the new camera of choice for consumers who seek the highest standard in picture quality," said Eric Thorng, Senior Marketing Manager of Consumer Digital Imaging Products, Consumer Markets Division, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc.

High sensitivity - The FinePix F700 offers auto sensitivity equivalent to ISO 160-400 when the LCD is on and the flash is off. Manual equivalency is ISO 200/400/800, and at 1600, when resolution is fixed at 1 megapixel.

Rapid continuous auto-focus on demand - The camera offers consumers a rapid continuous auto-focus (C-AF) on-demand mode in addition to its built-in autofocus capabilities. Consumers can choose to capture action shots in crisp, clear focus by pressing the C-AF button, located just to the left of the lens, to engage a full-time active fine focus adjustment. This choice conserves power, while allowing the consumer flexibility in capturing their images.

Color modes - The FinePix F700 produces near film quality pictures in standard color mode, and also offers black and white and chrome settings. The FinePix F700 also allows users to capture their images in RAW files as well as the JPEG format.

Sleek and familiar style - The camera's unique horizontal design echoes that of traditional cameras, and places the viewfinder, lens, and 1.8 inch LCD screen in the center of its sleek metal body. Its start-up time is one of the market's fastest, ready to capture images only 1.2 seconds from the time it is turned on.

Movie recording with sound - The FinePix F700 captures full resolution VGA digital video at 30 frames/second with sound, for non-stop unbuffered recording directly onto storage media. Movies can be replayed for friends and family at later dates on NTSC or PAL outputs.

The FinePix F700 comes bundled with an NP-40 battery, USB/AV cable, hand strap, 16MB xD-Picture Card, AC Power Adapter, and Picture Cradle / Battery Charger, FinePixViewer 4.0, ImageMixer VCD for FinePix 1.0 software. The camera will be available for purchase in April 2003 at the suggested list price of $599.95.

Fujifilm Makes Digital Photography Easy:
Now, consumers can get high-quality photos produced from their digital cameras just as easily as they get pictures from film cameras. It's as simple as bringing their media storage card to one of thousands of Fujifilm Digital Camera Developing services providers nationwide. Consumers are encouraged to visit www.digitalcameradeveloping.com and click on the link to "Print Your Digital Camera Photos" to find a retailer in their area offering Fujifilm Digital Camera Developing services. Printing options range from self-service kiosks to dropping off media storage for minilab development, just like with film.

To help simplify digital camera technology and educate consumers about the choices available to them, Fujifilm is now traveling the country for a third year with its FinePix "Picture of America™" Tour featuring its FinePix Truck. The tour highlights Fujifilm's complete line of shoot, store, print and share digital photography solutions. Details about the truck, as well as information about where it will be next, can be found at www.fujifilm.com/finepixtour.

About Fujifilm
Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. is the U.S. marketing subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. of Tokyo (FUJIY), a leading global manufacturer in three business segments, including Imaging Solutions, Information Solutions and Document Solutions. Recognized for its technological innovation and high
quality, Fujifilm offers a complete portfolio of imaging, information and document products, services and e-solutions to retailers, consumers, professionals and business customers.

The complete Fujifilm product portfolio in the U.S.A. includes: professional and consumer film and cameras; digital imaging products, including cameras and printers for commercial and consumer use; digital minilabs and kiosks; photographic paper and photofinishing supplies; professional motion picture film; high-capacity floppy disks, CDs and DVDs, tape cartridges and other data storage media; videotape and audiocassettes; professional and consumer optical discs; microfilm and other micrographic products; and graphic arts film, conventional and digital printing plates, analog ad digital color proofing systems, drum and flatbed scanners, imagesetters and computer-to-plate systems. Fujicolor Processing, Inc., a subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., provides wholesale photofinishing through a network of
laboratories across the country. Fujifilm e-Systems is a subsidiary of Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., that develops workflow solutions to support the company's photofinishing labs and consumer photographic businesses, including online imaging services such as Fujifilm.net.

For more information on Fujifilm products, consumers can call 800-800-FUJI or access the Fujifilm USA Web site at www.fujifilm.com.